2016 - Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City by Bicycle: Day 7 – Tue 22 Nov: Siem Reap to Angkor Complex return

27 degC 97% humidity, rain all day

Listed: 25km; actual: 42km; total: 322km

Walked: 6km

Awake at the usual time of 6am. No packing up required today so we had a leisurely breakfast, made to order. Had breakfast with three of the new people - Mike (Kiwi/Pom), Dave and son James (UK). We also knew Brian and Sue would be joining us from another hotel, so that made five new peeps.

We were supposed to leave at 8pm, but the sixth person was not at the agreed meeting point at the correct time. That made Sue and Brian late, and then they had to make sure the bikes fitted, etc. So we didn't end up leaving until 9am'ish.

First stop was at the Pass Office to have our photo taken and a three-day pass generated. Then it was off to the first temple of the day - Angkor Thom which was a rather run down temple under restoration. It was a maze of alleyways and all a bit confusing. As Greg had been before, he was not that interested and it didn't do much for Wendy either so we had a quick look around then made our way back to the bikes.

Next temple was Ta Prohm which was made famous by the movie "Tomb Raider" starring Angelina Jolie. We were taken on a guided tour of this temple and it was just as well as we would never have seen all the things to see and would have probably gotten lost in the process.

We then cycled to the restaurant for lunch at Srah Srang. On the way there we witnessed an accident between two tuktuks where one, carrying two passengers overturned down the rather steep side of the road. Fortunately no one was injured (visibly), and the boys helped haul the tangled mess back onto the road. Although the meal was not that bad, they were quite disorganized with it. Everyone got lunch in the end though. They also had the aircon set to about 18 degC which made it really hard to go back outside again into the 100% humidity.

The last temple for the day was Angkor Wat; an amazing piece of architecture. It was originally a Hindu temple or centre of worship, and took 37 years to build. Toward the end of the 12th century, Angkor Wat gradually transformed from a Hindu center of worship to Buddhism, which continues to the present day. It was a Holy Day today which meant we were not able to go up into the main tower; one of the main reasons you visit the complex. Again, we had a guided tour and it was quite spectacular.

It was then back onto the bikes for the last time today for the ride back to the hotel. It was quite a frantic dash through the chaotic traffic, but everyone made it back in one piece.

Dinner was at the Crystal Angkor, a theater restaurant with traditional Cambodian dancers. Both the food and the entertainment were good.